St. Barnabas

Facebook Delicous MySpace

Twitter Stumble Digg

More Destinations

All
Wikipedia
Video
Comments

Feastday: June 11
Patron of Cyprus, Antioch, against hailstorms, invoked as peacemaker
Died: 61

All we know of Barnabas is to be found in the New Testament. A Jew, born in Cyprus and named Joseph, he sold his property, gave the proceeds to the Apostles, who gave him the name Barnabas, and lived in common with the earliest converts to Christianity in Jerusalem. He persuaded the community there to accept Paul as a disciple, was sent to Antioch, Syria, to look into the community there, and brought Paul there from Tarsus. With Paul he brought Antioch's donation to the Jerusalem community during a famine, and returned to Antioch with John Mark, his cousin. The three went on a missionary journey to Cyprus, Perga (when John Mark went to Jerusalem), and Antioch in Pisidia, where they were so violently opposed by the Jews that they decided to preach to the pagans. Then they went on to Iconium and Lystra in Lycaonia, where they were first acclaimed gods and then stoned out of the city, and then returned to Antioch in Syria. When a dispute arose regarding the observance of the Jewish rites, Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem, where, at a council, it was decided that pagans did not have to be circumcised to be baptized. On their return to Antioch, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on another visitation to the cities where they had preached, but Paul objected because of John Mark's desertion of them in Perga. Paul and Barnabas parted, and Barnabas returned to Cyprus with Mark; nothing further is heard of him, though it is believed his rift with Paul was ultimately healed. Tradition has Barnabas preaching in Alexandria and Rome, the founder of the Cypriote Church, the Bishop of Milan (which he was not), and has him stoned to death at Salamis about the year 61. The apochryphal Epistle of Barnabas was long attributed to him, but modern scholarship now attributes it to a Christian in Alexandria between the years 70 and 100; the Gospel of Barnabas is probably by an Italian Christian who became a Mohammedan; and the Acts of Barnabas once attributed to John Mark are now known to have been written in the fifth century. His feast day is June 11.

from Wikipedia

Previous Saint
< St. Barnard

Next Saint
St. Barlaam >

Saint of the Day

Learn about the lives of the saints and other saint resources, including a calendar, over 5,000 saint biographies, our most popular saints, and a list of patron saints. 7 days / week. See Sample

E-mail: Zip Code:

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Find Saint: Products | Books | Prayers | Saint of the Day

Search Saints:

Rate This Saint

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Was this helpful to you? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

1 - 12 of 12 Comments

Bernadette Benoit
6 days ago
It's good to be reminded that we don't have to be perfect and we can have disagreements with others and still have a virtuous life. St. Barnabas, pray for us.
CHARLIE DAHL
1 week ago
wonderful commentary by Father
Joseph Mathew
1 week ago
St. Barnabas, Your devotion to the Gospel; to the Church and God's people are worth emulating. Please pray for us to lead exemplary lives devoted to God and our brethren..
Christopher Antony
1 week ago
St Barnabas Joseph I pray 2 you in great faith please pray for my family and friends
I ask for your Blessing and help I trust in God
May God Bless us all
Amen
Joseph Mathew
1 year ago
St. Barnabas, Please pray for us.
Mona
1 year ago
Dear Saint Barnabas, please pray for Jacob that he finds the right path and for his parents that they find the strenght and wisdom to guide him. Thank you.
Doris
1 year ago
Dear St. Barnabas, thank you for being a perfect example of generosity and humility. You sold your property to give to the Apostles to spread the word of God. You yourself lived as a commoner and helped in propagating the Christian faith. The reward of sainthood and eternal life with Jesus is now yours. St. Barnabas, pray for us.
christie
1 year ago
Dear St. Barnabas, I heard of you as a young Scripture student, when we read the Acts of the Apostles, in which I remember your close association with St. Paul. On your missionary journeys and in your teaching of the early Christians you received much encouragement and light from the Holy Spirit. Your Christian name given to you by the Apostles, means son of encouragement. And most significantly, I remember that it was in Antioch that the early converts were first called "Christians". I also recall with the love and admiration that the Cypriots have for you. Nearly everyone's surname was Varnavas. Finally we know that you were martyred. Dear saint of encouragement grant us this wonderful gift of hope and joy on your feast day. Amen
Anthony Obute
2 years ago
I am happy reading this beautiful life history of St. Barnabas. I never knew this much about him until today. Ofcourse I chose the name during my sacrament of Confirmation. I am happier now that I chose the name. St. Barnabas, pray for Us.
Clara Vande-guma
2 years ago
Clearly Barnabas was a controversial figure by this account. Yet we must not forget that he was human as this commentary is. I believe this saint represents what most young men these days undergo and could be invoke especially to intercede in the grooming of boys.
richard lewis
3 years ago
very interesting and very clearly written.
Ellen M Egerter
4 years ago
Barnabas spread the Good Word in difficult times and with much treacherous travel - how much easier is it these days - we are all open to receiving it in Church daily. In the Year of the Priest as always Mass is celebrated everyday and conveniently for us - even on TV! it's on NET TV everyday and even on the internet - so - no excuses! Go or watch - and pray to S. Barnabas while you are there and for your own Pastor and for more vocations. Ellen

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment

Previous Saint
< St. Barnard

Next Saint
St. Barlaam >

Find Saints

Catholic Online offers the largest searchable database of Catholic Saints on the internet.

Browse Saints by Alphabet	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Patron Saints by Alphabet	A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z